The Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group of South Africa (SBIG), organiser of the 2012 FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 Competition, has revealed the 20 highest rated wines in the countdown to the announcement of the overall winners.

By way of background, there were 195 entries this year compared to 169 in 2011, an increase of 15%. The judging panel was chaired by wine writer Christian Eedes and also included Miguel Chan, group sommelier for Tsogo Sun hotels, Richard Kershaw MW of Richard Kershaw Wines, Mark Norrish, wine division general manager of Ultra Liquors and Erika Obermeyer of Graham Beck Wines and chairperson of SBIG.

The 20 finalists are drawn from a wide array of producing areas (Cape Agulhas, Breedekloof, Cederberg, Darling, Durbanville, Elgin, Langeberg-Garcia, Stellenbosch and Tulbagh are all represented one way or another) and the line-up of producers includes both those with well-established reputations for making high quality Sauvignon Blanc and relative newcomers.  12 of the wines came from the 2012 vintage, seven from 2011 and one from 2010.

The 20 top-scoring wines are

Clos Malverne 2011
Clos Malverne 2012
D’Aria The Songbird 2011
De Morgenzon DMZ 2012
Diemersdal MM Louw 2011
Driehoek 2012
Du Toitskloof 2012
Durbanville Hills Biesjes Craal 2012
Ernst Gouws & Co 2012
Groote Post 2012
Lomond Pincushion 2011
Lomond Sugarbush 2010
Nederburg The Young Airhawk 2011
Neethlingshof Single Vineyard 2012
Paul Cluver 2011
Saronsberg Provenance 2012
Simonsig Sunbird 2012
Spice Route 2012
Stark-Condé Pepin Condé 2011
Virgin Earth Pepper Tree 2012

The wines which placed in the Top 10 will be made public on Thursday 13 September.